Alleging that 50 per cent of power generated in Nigeria is stolen by consumers across the country. says Funke Osibodu

"Electricity theft and vandalism of our electrical infrastructure continue to be a major menace and setback which needs urgent intervention in order to sustain the power sector across the country.

“ln Edo alone, about 39 transformers have been vandalised in the last four months and so many customers bypass their metres.

“We have reported the upsurge to the security agencies for investigation. It is important that customers and communities continue to to watch over these assets as such vandals end up throwing all parties in the area into darkness.

“There is a substituting federal law that has criminalised electricity theft with up to 21 years imprisonment for vandalism and electricity theft. “In line with the anti-corruption war, various states are now passing their own electricity theft law which is not unique to BEDC areas. There is federal law already that needs to be domesticated.

■ Words of the Managing Director of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), Mrs. Funke Osibodu, alleging that 50 per cent of power generated in Nigeria is stolen by consumers across the country.

“We are aware that Ekiti has activated the act in the state while Edo State House of Assembly passed the electricity theft law last week, prescribing two years jail term for offenders."